Universal binding post



J. F. DRESCHER UNIVERSAL BINDING POST Sept. 11, 1951 Filed Jan. 12, 19461 ///A mum: 24

' INVENTOR: L/OH/V F. fleascme'e.

Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL BINDINGPOST John F. Drescher, Santa Monica, Calif. I

Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,824 3 Claims. (01; 173-259)The invention relates to binding posts for electric connections and hasparticular reference to a binding post which is adapted to be connectedto some stationary object and which is so designed that it will permitan eflicient electric connection to be made with any one of a number ofdifferent types of terminals plugs and clamps. Binding posts forconnecting electric terminals are widely used and comprise manyvarieties, the commonest variety being a threaded extension and a nutfor anchoring a wire or fork terminal which may be applied to thethreaded extension. Other types of binding posts include clips such asare frequently used on storage batteries which are adapted to bemanually depressed to .permit manual insertion of a wire and thenallowed to spring back to firmly anchor the wire in :place.

Still other types of binding posts are those adapted to receive thecommonly known telephone type plug with some spring device or otherprovided for firmly gripping the plug to resist physical removal of theplug and likewise to provide a proper electric connection between theplug and the binding post.

Although these individual types of binding posts serve their separatepurposes efiiciently and conveniently, they are not sufiicientlyversatile to permit a proper connection to be made unless the electricterminal has the particular form for which the binding post is designed.

When electric devices are built, it is not always certain which kinds ofterminals will be encountered in the field. At times a device havingbinding posts to fit the terminals may have to be replaced with someother available device without binding posts of the proper kind,necessitating a change also of either the posts or the terminals forproper and convenient operation.

Furthermore, when an electrically operated device is already providedwith wiring featuring ,one type or another of electric terminal inconwide variety of different types of electric terminals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new andimproved-universal type binding post.

which is simple in design and construction and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedbinding post of sturdy andrugged construction in whichi various work,-ing parts are designed and made to perform several different functions,thereby substantially minimizing the number of individual parts while atthe same time preserving all of the functions necessary to provide auniversal connection.

With these and other objects in, view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrange;- ment and combination of the various parts of thedevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: ,7 I

Figure 1 is a side elevational viewof the device showing amounting for.the post and a specific type of connected terminal partially in section.

Figure v2 is a-longitudina'l, sectional view of the device taken on theline'2-2 of Figure 1 but-with a telephone type plug substituted for theterminal illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view onthe line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view similar to Figure 2 butinwhich an electric wire is applied to the plugin place of the telephonetype plug.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view similar to Figure 2 with abanana type plug substituted for the telephone type plug.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view partially in section showingapplication of an alligator clamp to the binding post. n

In providing an electric binding post for al most any type of electricdevice it is of great advantage to the man in the field to be able toattach any one of many different types of'electric terminals to thebinding post. In most cases the electric terminals are permanentlyfastened to the electric lead or wire by a soldered joint, and to removeand replace the terminal necessitates extra work which consumes timeanddelays installation in servicing. While it is true that multiplebinding posts might be provided in order to permit a device so equippedto be properly connected to any type of terminal which might beencountered, the provision of extra binding posts would be cumbersomeand expensive.

' Binding posts of a multiple type have also been attempted, but thesefor the most part. have not been compact and inexpensive and have alsofailed to provide a binding post of sufficient versatility toaccommodate all of the commercial styles of electric terminals.

In an embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention there is shown auniversal post assembly indicated generally by the character In andshown applied to a casing |2. The binding post, as illustrated in Figure1, shows a removable electric lead |4 attached to the upper portion ofthe post and a permanent lead I6 attached to the lower end of the postpreferably by means of a drop of solder i8. The electric lead l4 inFigure 1 is shown provided with a terminal i9 which may be either aforked, lug or spade terminal.

The binding post comprises in part a stationary post having an outerthreaded portion 2|, an inner threaded portion 22 and a flange 23separating the outer and inner portions. In the particular set-upillustrated a nut 24 is threaded upon the inner portion 22 so that thestationary post is firmly maintained in a suitable aperture 25 on thecasing l2. In order to make a permanent electric connection to the postfrom the permanent lead IS, the post is provided with a metallic element26, the lower end of which receives the lead IS. The element is brazedor soldered intermediate its ends to the lower end of the inner portionof the stationary post by means of a brazed joint 21. At its upper endthe element is split into two halvesor leaves. 28, the upper ends ofwhich are curved outwardly so as to per mit the ready insertion of anend 23 of a telephone type plug 30. The. leaves 28 are spring pressedinto frictional engagement with the end of" the plug. An inwardly turnedflange 3| guards the ends of the leaves in order to guide the entry ofthe end 29 into its position between the leaves. present likewise on theopposite end of the post.

For the accommodation of other types of terminals the post assembly isprovided with a body 32 having a central bore 33, the lower end of whichis enlarged and threaded so as to engage the outer threaded portion ofthe stationary post.

The body may be removed from the stationary post and replaced in atightened position against a lug or spade type terminal in the mannershown in Figure 1.

A transverse aperture 34 extends through the body from side to side forthe accommodation of a bare electric wire 35 as shown in Figure 4. Inorder to hold an electric wire, or plug terminal of sufiiciently smalldiameter, the post assembly is provided with a cap 36 surmounted by asleeve 31 of insulating material. portion 38 extending downwardly andsurrounding the body 32. In order to hold the cap in place, the body isprovided with oppositely disposed longitudinal recesses 39 which extendin.- wardly part way from the lower end, terminating in shoulders 40 atthe ends of the transverse aperture.

To secure the skirt of the cap to the body, portions 4| of the skirt areindented into the longitudinal recesses of the body. At the inner endsof the longitudinal recesses the cap is provided with plug receivingapertures 42 best seen in Figure 1. By providing apertures of this kindthe inside end of the indented portions of the skirt are cut off andedges 43 remain which, when the cap is extended as shown in Figure 1,are adapted to engage the shoulders 40 and prevent removal of the cap.In. Figure 4 the edges are shown in engagement with the bare wire, 35.

To provide a tight grip upon the bare-electric A similar inwardly turnedflange is' The cap has a skirt wire 35, means comprising a coiled spring44 is employed which normally urges the cap outwardly so as to force theedges 43 against the lower side of the bare wire. The spring is receivedwithin an enlargement 45 at the upper end of the bore 33, theenlargement providing a shelf at the bottom against which the bottom ofthe spring is designed to press. The upper end of the spring is designedto engage an inwardly turned flange 46 of the cap in which is a. centralaperture 41. The spring normally urges the cap into the position shownin Figure 1 wherein the edges 43 on the skirt engage the shoulder 40 01the body. The spring may be depressed, however, a distance sufficient topermit the apertures 42 to be in substantial alignment with thetransyerseaperture 34 in order that the bare wire 35 may be insertedlaterally through the post assembly where upon release of the cap thecoiled spring urges the cap outwardly to firmly fasten the Wire inplace.

The binding post assembly is shown in Figure 5. in a. position whereinit receives a banana type plug 50. The banana type plug is ofconventional design incorporating two pairs of springlike elements 5|which extend outwardly near the end to give the plug a bulb-like shapewider at the outer end than at the point or connection with the bananatype plug. When the plug is applied to the post assembly, thespring-like portions 5| are depressed a slight amount by the wall of theaperture 41 as the plug is passed into the assembly and then expandedoutwardly into contact with the coiled spring 44 and wall of theaperture. Outward expansion of the spring-like elements serves thedouble purpose .01 holding the banana type plug in place and likewiseproviding an efficient connection between the plug and the binding postassembly.

Figure 6 still further illustrates the versatility of the binding postassembly herein described. In this figure an alligator clamp havingserrated jaws 56 and 51 pivoted at the point 58 is shown with the jaw 51inserted within the post assembly wherein the teeth are urged intoengagement with the coils of the spring 44 by spring pressure inherentin the clamp. By this device the clamp is physically attached to thebinding post through the spring by a connection which likewise providesan efficient electric contact.

The provision of a universal type binding post of the type describedwhich incorporates both longitudinal and transverse apertures forthereception of various types of terminals and also provides fortightening of the body on a station ary post in the manner of a nut isproductive of an electric connection of an extremely versatile sort. Thedevice is simple in its construction, has relatively few moving parts,all of which are compactly arranged and housed within the outer portionsor" the assembly, and working parts cannot readily get out of order. Ihebinding post assembly is therefore suitable for use under all sorts ofcircumstances wherein it can be counted upon to provide an efficientelectric connection which will not readily become separated.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is reconized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent structures.

The invention having been herein described,

what is claimed and sought to be secured by Letters Patent isi 1. Auniversal binding post assembly adapted to the retention of electricterminals of different types comprising a stationary post providing apermanent wire connection, means within the post adapted to thereception of a telephone type plug, a removable body having a threadedconnection to an end portion of the post for the clamping of electricterminals of an apertured type, said body including a transverseaperture adapted to the reception of elongated electric terminals, aspring pressed cap having limited axial movement relative to the bodycomprising a skirt surrounding the body and transverse plug receivingapertures therein, cooperable detention means between the skirt and thebody, said apertures having positions of substantial alignment with thetransverse aperture when said cap is moved against spring pressure, saidcap having an open axial bore adapted to engagement with terminalconnections of the banana plug and alligator clamp types, and a springacting between the body and the cap normally urging said cap endwiserelative to the body.

2. A universal binding post assembly adapted to the retention ofelectric terminals of different types comprising a stationary posthaving opposite threaded end portions separated by a flange and a nut onone end portion adapted to cooperate with the flange for anchoring thepost to a support, said post having a hollow interior and inwardlyturned flanges at opposite ends, an electric connection elementcomprising an exterior end providing a solder connection, a splitinterior end providing resilient leaves adapted to the reception of atelephone type plug and an integral joint between the lower end of thepost and a portion of the element intermediate the ends, a body havingan axial bore and a threaded connection between the body and the otherend portion of the post removable and replaceable for the clamping ofelectric terminals of an apertured type to the post, said body includinga transverse aperture adapted to the reception of elongated electricterminals opposite longitudinalrecesses on the exterior of the bodyterminating in shoulders adjacent ends of the transverse aperture, andan enlargement at the end of the bore remote from the threadedconnection providing an annular shelf at the bottom thereof, a springpressed cap comprising a skirt surrounding the body having longitudinalbody recesses and transverse plug receiving apertures at the inner endsof the indentations providing exposed edges engageable with theshoulders of the body recesses, said apertures having positions ofsubstantial alignment with the transverse aperture in depressed positionof the cap, an insulating sleeve on the outside end of the cap and acoiled spring in the enlargement of the bore acting between the shelfand the cap normally urging said cap outwardly from the body and adaptedto reception of and engagement with terminal connections of the bananaplug and alligator clamp types.

3. A terminal binding post assembly adapted to the retention of electricterminals of diffierent types comprising a stationary post havingopposite threadedend portions separated by a flange and a nut on one endportion adapted to cooperate with the iiange for anchoring the post to asupport, said post having a hollow interior and inwardly turned flangesat opposite ends, an electric connection element comprising an exteriorend providing a permanent wire connection, a split interior end adaptedto the reception of a telephone type plug and a connection between theelement intermediate the ends and the lower end of the post, a removablebody having a threaded connection to the other end portion of the postfor retention of electric terminals of an apertured type, said bodyhaving an axial bore therethrough, a spring pressed apertured cap on thebody having a limited slideable connection there with, a coiled springin the bore acting between the body and the cap normally to extend saidcap outwardly from the body and adapted to engagement with the terminalconnections of the banana plug and alligator clamp types.

JOHN F. DRESCI-IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the GreatBritain Nov. 5, 1925

